The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-09-19
AN INDIAN SCHOOL.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE INSTITUTION
AT LAWRENCE, KAN.
Children of the Red Men Travelling In the
White Mans ath-Chara cterlstics
of the Indians-PupiIs at
Dinner.
kansas Cor. Courier-Journal.1

We reached q circular Enclosure of
several acres, and from the opposite side
from that which we enter are three large
stone buildings several stories high, and
arranged in semi-circular manner The
center building was the school; the one on
the left contained the dining hall, kitchen
working rooms and sleeping apartments
for the females. The right hand building
contained the superintendent Offices and
apartments for the males This is beau
tiful one, overlooking the valley of the
Wakarusa- The view revealed wide
stretch of gently undulating prairie,
which with its wealth of vegetation,
lighted up by the MONDAY sun, presented
a wonderful variety of rich colOring.
From the various Lelds of grain there
came the hum of busy harvesters, while
from the green hedges the birds poured
forth melody as pure and free as the
air.
The school farm extends down this
beautiful valley and consist of $50 acres
This is cultivated by the Indians under
the direction OF a practical farmer, the
pupils being required to work one half of
each day. Learning how to work is one
of the principal features of the school,
and for the males, in addition to the
farming, they have blacksmithing, shoe
making and carpentering. The females
are taught all kinds of cooking, house
keeping, sewing, etc. In the school the
course will be progressive, but now in the
beginning is of necessity confined. to the
common branches. Music is very popu-
lar with them, and they are very eager to
study drawing, in which they exhibit
very decided initiative powers. Some Of
the pictures on the blackboard were ex-
cellent, particularly those of animals.
The school department is conducted
very ably by Mr.. Joseph Du Mars and
wife and six assistants There is a de-
lightful gentleness and kindness of man
ner about Mr.. and Mrs Du Mars which
gives them a peculiar fitness for the Diff
cult task before them, The Indians seem
to have warm affection and profound
respect for them. Mr.. Uu Mars also holds
the responsible position of disciplinarian.
next in authority to the superintendent,
and attends to the wants of the little "in.
juns" when they need punishment He
told us that way down deep in the base
ment was dungeon for the larger In
dams, when disobedient, but that very lit
tie punishment of any kind is ever nee
essary.
over 800 were in attendance last
year, and among this number about
200 remain during the summer vaca-
ton. The Indians are very much de
lighted with their new situation, and
highly appreciate the opportunity afforded
them. The change from the old ways of
the school has been in operation but one
year, it is diGcult to determine upon re-
suits The Indian chiefs and fathers are
very much in favor of having their
children educated and advise them to find
the white mans path, as they call it, as
quickly as possible, for the old ways
will no longer do The school is sup
ported entirely by the government The
buildings cost $50, 000 the land having
been donated by private citizens. There
is an appropriation of S175 year for
each pupil, which pays their way entirely,
even to railroad fare to and from their
homes. The pupils are obtained through
the efforts of the officers of the institu-
ton, and the government agents in the In
dian nation. so it is virtually a reaching
out after them by the government and
begging them to come in and be bene-
fitted, and they are gladly coming.
The Indians are more sentimental than
we commonly suppose. They shed tears
at parting with their children, and the
latter remember their rude homes with
tenderness that refinement will never ex-
tinguish. They part very reluctantly
with their long hair, which according to
the rules of the Institute must be neatly
trimmed We were told of touching
incident in connection with this. A strong
young chief begged that his locks might
be spared, for they had been his glory and
PRIDE but yielding to the stern require
ments of his start toward civilization,
which at every step must sacrifice loved
customs of the past. he buried his face in
his hands and submitted. As the shears
rudely severed from him that which
he had so much revered, the hot tears
came trickling down Who knows how
much it cost him to submit2 W. have
profound respect for honest tears. How
peaceful beyond all comprehension and
how far removed from earthliness, or
else how cold and heartless is a fearless
life It is either angelic or satanic and
has in it little of humanity.
The dinner hour is announced and for
an instant all is confusion as the Indians
"faIl in The line is formed in front of
the dining hall, and then, with orderly
step and perfect quiet, the scene of battle
is soon reached and the enemy (?) po-
itely vanquished. The dinner was of
good, substantial food, and partaken
of with manners that would
do credit to any board. Before
eating. the entire assembly, with
bowed heads and reverential manner,
joined in singing grace. The pupils as
sumo new names when they enter the
college, and instead of Little Turtle.
Pottawatomie BLACK HOof, Long
Tail " etc, we see Walter Scott, Brutus.
Oscar Wilde Jay Gould, etc. After
dinner we witnessed a very practical
broom drill " The broom brigade, with
proper officers marched out into the
grounds surrounding the college and
made a vigorous attack on dirt and rub
bish of every kind